Matthew 7:14 “Because strait is the gate, and
narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it”
The
word strait in the verse “strait is the gate” leads to the Greek word “histemi”
which means to “stand firm in the presence of others, in the midst, before
judges, and before the Sanhedrin (religious leaders)”. It also carries the
meaning of “making firm, to establish a thing, to stand immovable and prepared,
and to be of a steadfast mind”. So the strait gate that we the believers have
to enter is a gate where we the believers are firmly established in our faith
so that we can stand up to the world and what it will send at us. The next phrase
that Jesus uses is “narrow” is the way. The word narrow here is the Greek word “tribos”
which means “to press (as a grape press), to press hard upon, a compressed way,
and metaphorically to be afflicted and distressed”. If you study the church
before Constantine gave the apostate Roman Catholic Church power this is EXACTLY
what you will find. Paul said it best in 2 Corinthians 8-11 “We
are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, but not in
despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life
also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For
which we live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake that the life
also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh”. Do we see this
today? Yes we do see it in places like China, North Korea, Russia, and the
Middle East but not in America. The americanized christians will scream out
that is because we are so “Blessed by God”, but the Word of God disagrees
because it says this “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12-13). So if we are not being
persecuted then it is time we ask ourselves, why not?
The Word of God is clear
on this matter so we need to be clear too.
It
is time we started walking the "strait and narrow" and get off the
road to hell, doncha think?
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